FY 2016 Appropriation

The Public Service Commission ensures safe, reliable and adequate utility service for Utah residents. It conducts hearings and investigations of utility company operations in order to determine just and reasonable rates for service. The Commission's goals for regulation are efficient, reliable, reasonably-priced utility service for customers, and maintenance of financially healthy utility companies. These goals are generally attained through the regulatory decisions the Commission makes in each formal case.

Funding History
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $16,899,800 from all sources for Public Service Commission. This is a 3.5 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time

Statute

UCA Title 54, chapters 1 through 15, establish the Commission and authorize it to regulate utilities.

The Public Service Commission budget is comprised of three line items:

  1. Public Service Commission
  2. Speech & Hearing Impaired
  3. Universal Telecommunications Support Fund

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 73

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 32, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The use of nonlapsing funds is limited to maintenance, upgrades, and licensing for the Public Service Commission's document management system; computer equipment and software upgrades; employee training and incentives; and special projects/studies that might require consultants or temporary employees.


HB0003: Item 74

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 33, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. Ending balances for the Speech and Hearing Impaired program are non-lapsing under section 54-8b-10(5)(d).


HB0003: Item 139

Under Section 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided to the Public Service Commission in Item 35, Chapter 10, Laws of Utah 2014 not lapse at the close of Fiscal Year 2015. The Universal Telecommunications Support Fund is set in statute under section 54-8b-15.


The Commission receives funding from the special restricted fund, known as the Public Utilities Regulatory Fee (PURF), Dedicated Credit Funds for the Speech and Hearing Impaired program, and restricted funds for the Universal Public Telecommunications Service Support Fund (USF).

Special Funds

Public Utilities Regulation Fund (PURF): The purpose of this special restricted fund known as PURF is to "defray the cost of regulation" of those "public utilities subject to the jurisdiction" of the commission. Collections from PURF are remitted to the Commerce Service Fund which holds the funds until they are appropriated by the Legislature and subsequently spent by the Commission.

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.